Matt Stroup

Baseball Daily Dose

Bad Vibes for Brett Anderson

After being placed on the DL Tuesday afternoon with elbow soreness, A's left-hander Brett Anderson ran head-first into nine of the most ominous words in the world of sports on Tuesday: Headed for a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews.

That scheduled appointment certainly doesn't guarantee that the 23-year-old is headed for Tommy John surgery, but it does tilt the arrow in that direction. Anderson had posted a 2.84 ERA before struggling in his last two starts, and if Tommy John does become a necessity, he'd likely be sidelined until sometime next summer.

With his arrival in the big leagues fast-approaching, Padres' first base prospect Anthony Rizzo was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to a left thumb injury and will reportedly head to San Diego Wednesday to be examined by Padres team doctors. If that seemingly precautionary exam goes well, Rizzo could be called up as soon as Thursday or Friday. The 21-year-old is hitting .365 with 16 homers and 65 RBI at Triple-A and will warrant consideration in mixed leagues, but transitioning from the Pacific Coast League to Petco won't do wonders for his hitting stats.

Tuesday was an eventful day of injury updates for Jimmy Rollins, as GM Ruben Amaro first said that the shortstop had a "significant" bone bruise on his knee, only to have Charlie Manuel later say that Rollins could return to the lineup Wednesday. Rollins appeared as a pinch-hitter Tuesday, so either way it doesn't sound like his return to the lineup is far off.

Dodgers' prospect Rubby De La Rosa picked up a win in his first career start on Tuesday (five innings, four hits, five walks, four K's against the Phillies). He's not yet a must-add in mixed leagues, but the 22-year-old right-hander has impressive raw stuff and needs to be watched closely in all formats.

Speaking of notable young Dodgers, shortstop Dee Gordon went 3-for-5 with a run and a steal hitting leadoff in his big league debut. Gordon won't provide any power (zero homers in 200 at-bats at Triple-A), but the 23-year-old had 22 steals in the minors and should continue to be an asset in that category with Rafael Furcal (oblique) expected to miss as much as a month.

Jon Rauch picked up another save on Tuesday, the first by any Blue Jays pitcher since Rauch himself got one back on May 27. With Frank Francisco (6.06 ERA) continuing to struggle, Rauch looks like the preferred closing option in Toronto at the moment.

Edinson Volquez was impressive in his return to the Cincinnati rotation, holding the Cubs to one run on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts in seven innings. I'm still staying away in mixed leagues given Volquez's control issues this season (and given that he only lowered his ERA and WHIP to 5.74 and 1.62, respectively), but I can understand gambling on him in mixed leagues if you're the sort of person who likes to play spot starter roulette.

Aroldis Chapman (shoulder) has been sent from Triple-A to Double-A to continue his rehab, which obviously doesn't suggest that the Reds plan to rush him back, though the team is only saying at the moment that he'll make at least two appearances at Double-A.

Pitcher injury notes:Jake Peavy (groin) is expecting to land on the DL … Vicente Padilla (neck) received an anti-inflammatory injection, but his timetable remains uncertain … Meanwhile, Jonathan Broxton (elbow) threw a bullpen on Tuesday and is set to throw another one Thursday … John Lackey conceded that his sore elbow, while okay for now, is eventually going to get worse … Barry Zito (foot) was sharp in his first rehab start at Single-A on Monday, but Bruce Bochy reportedly wants him to reach 100 pitches "a couple times" before being activated … The Phillies' team physician found no significant damage in Brad Lidge's elbow … Stephen Strasburg (elbow) is throwing 30-40 fastballs in three bullpen sessions per week, but remains a longshot to return before the end of this season.

Position player injury notes:Mark Teixeira is expected to miss a few days after getting hit on the right knee by a Jon Lester pitch … Pablo Sandoval (wrist) was in the lineup for Triple-A Fresno Tuesday, so he appears to have avoided a significant setback after sitting out Monday… David Freese (hand) hit off a tee and is hoping to be back before the end of June … Yunel Escobar is day-to-day after leaving early with a bruised quad … Jayson Werth (ankle) was scratched from Tuesday's lineup, but appeared as a pinch-hitter … Marlon Byrd (facial fractures) hopes to take BP later this week as he targets a return in early July … Allen Craig left Tuesday with a possible knee injury … Travis Hafner (oblique) is expected to take BP Friday, but will need a rehab stint before rejoining the Indians … Carlos Beltran (shin) returned to the lineup Tuesday … Denard Span (neck) was out of the lineup for the Twins.

Position player injury notes (part 2):Jason Heyward (shoulder) could begin swinging a bat in the next few days as his recovery continues to progress slowly … Brian Roberts (concussion) was told that he's at least two weeks from resuming baseball activities … Evan Longoria remained out of the lineup due to illness, but B.J. Upton returned and homered … Elliot Johnson (knee) could be back with the Rays after rehab games on Thursday and Friday … Lance Berkman (wrist) homered in his return to action … Vernon Wells (groin) went 0-for-3 in his return from the DL … Scott Rolen (strep throat) was out of the lineup for a second straight day … Jed Lowrie is headed for an MRI on his injured left shoulder.

Miscellaneous: The A's placed Mark Ellis (hamstring) on the DL and purchased the contract of Jemile Weeks, who should be added in AL-Only leagues … Jonathan Papelbon received a three-game suspension for his actions on Saturday, but has appealed and picked up his 200th career save – albeit a shaky one – on Tuesday … The Indians promoted Nick Johnson to Triple-A … The Mariners recalled Mike Carp (.348 average, 19 homers, 58 RBI at Triple-A), but I'm skeptical that he'll be able to establish value beyond AL-Only leagues while transitioning from the Pacific Coast League to Safeco … The Rockies placed Dexter Fowler (abdominal strain) on the DL and purchased the contract of Charles Blackmon, who's worth a look in NL-Only formats.

Notable hurling:Matt Harrison cowboy'd up and pitched through an impending kidney stone, but allowed eight hits and four runs (three earned) in four innings … Philip Humber picked up a win with 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball against Seattle … Roy Oswalt was unimpressive, allowing four runs on eight hits with just one strikeout in six innings … Tommy Hanson picked up a win with six shutout innings against Florida … Brad Hand wasn't posting dominant numbers at Double-A, but held the offensively-challenged Braves to one hit in six innings … Carlos Carrasco shut out the anemic Twins' offense for 8 1/3 innings … Francisco Liriano allowed one unearned run with seven K's over five innings in his return from the DL … Daniel Hudson (seven innings, one earned run, seven K's) was solid in a no-decision against Pittsburgh … Jordan Zimmermann held the Giants to one run in seven innings and now has a 3.39 ERA and 1.12 WHIP for the season … Tim Stauffer shut out Colorado for eight innings to pick up his second win … Ubaldo Jimenez held the Padres to two runs in seven innings with eight strikeouts, but fell to 1-6.

Notable hitting:Paul Konerko homered for the third time in four games … Adam Lind homered for the third time in four games since coming off the DL … Juan Miranda broke out of a slump by going 4-for-4 with his sixth homer ... Alex Gonzalez's solo homer accounted for his first RBI since May 8 … Blake DeWitt recorded his second straight three-hit game to raise his average to .316 … Hitting leadoff for a fifth straight game, Johnny Damon had two doubles and a triple to raise his average to .288 … Austin Jackson picked up three hits and three RBI to up his average to .247.

After being placed on the DL Tuesday afternoon with elbow soreness, A's left-hander Brett Anderson ran head-first into nine of the most ominous words in the world of sports on Tuesday: Headed for a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews.

That scheduled appointment certainly doesn't guarantee that the 23-year-old is headed for Tommy John surgery, but it does tilt the arrow in that direction. Anderson had posted a 2.84 ERA before struggling in his last two starts, and if Tommy John does become a necessity, he'd likely be sidelined until sometime next summer.

With his arrival in the big leagues fast-approaching, Padres' first base prospect Anthony Rizzo was scratched from Tuesday's lineup due to a left thumb injury and will reportedly head to San Diego Wednesday to be examined by Padres team doctors. If that seemingly precautionary exam goes well, Rizzo could be called up as soon as Thursday or Friday. The 21-year-old is hitting .365 with 16 homers and 65 RBI at Triple-A and will warrant consideration in mixed leagues, but transitioning from the Pacific Coast League to Petco won't do wonders for his hitting stats.

Tuesday was an eventful day of injury updates for Jimmy Rollins, as GM Ruben Amaro first said that the shortstop had a "significant" bone bruise on his knee, only to have Charlie Manuel later say that Rollins could return to the lineup Wednesday. Rollins appeared as a pinch-hitter Tuesday, so either way it doesn't sound like his return to the lineup is far off.

Dodgers' prospect Rubby De La Rosa picked up a win in his first career start on Tuesday (five innings, four hits, five walks, four K's against the Phillies). He's not yet a must-add in mixed leagues, but the 22-year-old right-hander has impressive raw stuff and needs to be watched closely in all formats.

Speaking of notable young Dodgers, shortstop Dee Gordon went 3-for-5 with a run and a steal hitting leadoff in his big league debut. Gordon won't provide any power (zero homers in 200 at-bats at Triple-A), but the 23-year-old had 22 steals in the minors and should continue to be an asset in that category with Rafael Furcal (oblique) expected to miss as much as a month.

Jon Rauch picked up another save on Tuesday, the first by any Blue Jays pitcher since Rauch himself got one back on May 27. With Frank Francisco (6.06 ERA) continuing to struggle, Rauch looks like the preferred closing option in Toronto at the moment.

Edinson Volquez was impressive in his return to the Cincinnati rotation, holding the Cubs to one run on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts in seven innings. I'm still staying away in mixed leagues given Volquez's control issues this season (and given that he only lowered his ERA and WHIP to 5.74 and 1.62, respectively), but I can understand gambling on him in mixed leagues if you're the sort of person who likes to play spot starter roulette.

Aroldis Chapman (shoulder) has been sent from Triple-A to Double-A to continue his rehab, which obviously doesn't suggest that the Reds plan to rush him back, though the team is only saying at the moment that he'll make at least two appearances at Double-A.

Pitcher injury notes:Jake Peavy (groin) is expecting to land on the DL … Vicente Padilla (neck) received an anti-inflammatory injection, but his timetable remains uncertain … Meanwhile, Jonathan Broxton (elbow) threw a bullpen on Tuesday and is set to throw another one Thursday … John Lackey conceded that his sore elbow, while okay for now, is eventually going to get worse … Barry Zito (foot) was sharp in his first rehab start at Single-A on Monday, but Bruce Bochy reportedly wants him to reach 100 pitches "a couple times" before being activated … The Phillies' team physician found no significant damage in Brad Lidge's elbow … Stephen Strasburg (elbow) is throwing 30-40 fastballs in three bullpen sessions per week, but remains a longshot to return before the end of this season.

Position player injury notes:Mark Teixeira is expected to miss a few days after getting hit on the right knee by a Jon Lester pitch … Pablo Sandoval (wrist) was in the lineup for Triple-A Fresno Tuesday, so he appears to have avoided a significant setback after sitting out Monday… David Freese (hand) hit off a tee and is hoping to be back before the end of June … Yunel Escobar is day-to-day after leaving early with a bruised quad … Jayson Werth (ankle) was scratched from Tuesday's lineup, but appeared as a pinch-hitter … Marlon Byrd (facial fractures) hopes to take BP later this week as he targets a return in early July … Allen Craig left Tuesday with a possible knee injury … Travis Hafner (oblique) is expected to take BP Friday, but will need a rehab stint before rejoining the Indians … Carlos Beltran (shin) returned to the lineup Tuesday … Denard Span (neck) was out of the lineup for the Twins.

Position player injury notes (part 2):Jason Heyward (shoulder) could begin swinging a bat in the next few days as his recovery continues to progress slowly … Brian Roberts (concussion) was told that he's at least two weeks from resuming baseball activities … Evan Longoria remained out of the lineup due to illness, but B.J. Upton returned and homered … Elliot Johnson (knee) could be back with the Rays after rehab games on Thursday and Friday … Lance Berkman (wrist) homered in his return to action … Vernon Wells (groin) went 0-for-3 in his return from the DL … Scott Rolen (strep throat) was out of the lineup for a second straight day … Jed Lowrie is headed for an MRI on his injured left shoulder.

Miscellaneous: The A's placed Mark Ellis (hamstring) on the DL and purchased the contract of Jemile Weeks, who should be added in AL-Only leagues … Jonathan Papelbon received a three-game suspension for his actions on Saturday, but has appealed and picked up his 200th career save – albeit a shaky one – on Tuesday … The Indians promoted Nick Johnson to Triple-A … The Mariners recalled Mike Carp (.348 average, 19 homers, 58 RBI at Triple-A), but I'm skeptical that he'll be able to establish value beyond AL-Only leagues while transitioning from the Pacific Coast League to Safeco … The Rockies placed Dexter Fowler (abdominal strain) on the DL and purchased the contract of Charles Blackmon, who's worth a look in NL-Only formats.

Notable hurling:Matt Harrison cowboy'd up and pitched through an impending kidney stone, but allowed eight hits and four runs (three earned) in four innings … Philip Humber picked up a win with 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball against Seattle … Roy Oswalt was unimpressive, allowing four runs on eight hits with just one strikeout in six innings … Tommy Hanson picked up a win with six shutout innings against Florida … Brad Hand wasn't posting dominant numbers at Double-A, but held the offensively-challenged Braves to one hit in six innings … Carlos Carrasco shut out the anemic Twins' offense for 8 1/3 innings … Francisco Liriano allowed one unearned run with seven K's over five innings in his return from the DL … Daniel Hudson (seven innings, one earned run, seven K's) was solid in a no-decision against Pittsburgh … Jordan Zimmermann held the Giants to one run in seven innings and now has a 3.39 ERA and 1.12 WHIP for the season … Tim Stauffer shut out Colorado for eight innings to pick up his second win … Ubaldo Jimenez held the Padres to two runs in seven innings with eight strikeouts, but fell to 1-6.

Notable hitting:Paul Konerko homered for the third time in four games … Adam Lind homered for the third time in four games since coming off the DL … Juan Miranda broke out of a slump by going 4-for-4 with his sixth homer ... Alex Gonzalez's solo homer accounted for his first RBI since May 8 … Blake DeWitt recorded his second straight three-hit game to raise his average to .316 … Hitting leadoff for a fifth straight game, Johnny Damon had two doubles and a triple to raise his average to .288 … Austin Jackson picked up three hits and three RBI to up his average to .247.